(New York, May 1, 2026)—The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced today that, through their Rubio Butterfield Foundation, recently elected Trustee Jennifer Rubio and her husband, Stewart Butterfield, have pledged over $23 million to endow the Museum’s long-standing internships for undergraduate and graduate students in perpetuity. The couple’s extraordinary gift will forever ensure that The Met, already the single largest art museum in the country to offer 100 percent paid internships, can further enhance access and remove financial barriers to participation in the program. In recognition of Rubio and Butterfield’s extraordinary generosity, the college and university student internship program will be named after the couple, beginning in September 2026.
In addition to the endowment, the Rubio Butterfield Foundation has also made an additional pledge to support the Museum’s new Tang Wing for modern and contemporary art, opening in 2030.
“Jen and Stewart’s exceptional gift substantially strengthens the future of The Met—and the broader arts and culture ecosystem—by supporting in perpetuity a continuous pipeline for new voices and innovative ideas to enter the field,” said Max Hollein, The Met's Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. “We are deeply grateful to Jen, as a new trustee, for recognizing the importance of expanding access and helping to foster the next generation of talent. As we look ahead to the construction of our new galleries for modern and contemporary art, we are equally thrilled to have such respected collectors engaged with and helping to advance this transformative project for contemporary culture.”
“My own path has been made possible by access—by people and institutions that opened doors early on, and by formative experiences that shaped how I came to see the world,” said Rubio. “Expanding that kind of opportunity has become central to my philanthropic work. Internships are often the first meaningful point of entry into this field, yet too often that pathway depends on circumstance rather than talent. Stewart and I are proud to support The Met in making that entry point more equitable, ensuring that emerging voices, perspectives, and expertise help define the future of the Museum and the broader cultural landscape.”
About Internships at The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers paid internship programs for undergraduate and graduate students that welcome over 100 interns each year, as well as a range of opportunities for high school students. For nearly 60 years, these programs have provided mentorship and professional development through experiences across over 40 Museum departments, offering opportunities to learn about museum practice and gain professional skills in a variety of fields. In 2021, the Museum’s Undergraduate and Graduate Internship Program became fully paid through a major gift from Adrienne Arsht, enhancing access and removing financial barriers to participation in the program and making The Met the largest art museum in the United States to offer 100 percent paid internships. The college and university student internship program is now sustained in perpetuity by the generous endowment established by Jennifer Rubio and Stewart Butterfield through their Rubio Butterfield Foundation.
About Jennifer Rubio
Jennifer Rubio is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. She is the co-founder and Executive Chairwoman of the travel and accessories brand Away. Under her leadership, Away became a highly influential new consumer brand, earning recognition for disrupting the travel and retail industries. Ms. Rubio’s investing and advisory portfolio spans consumer, hospitality, and technology ventures, with a particular emphasis on supporting emerging founders and women-led companies. She serves on the board of directors of Yahoo.
Ms. Rubio’s philanthropic work through the Rubio Butterfield Foundation extends to education, equity, and community development. Her initiatives consistently center on expanding access—whether to opportunity, cultural institutions, or the broader world. She was formerly on the Board of Trustees of the Whitney Museum of American Art, where she helped expand public access and advanced opportunities for emerging curators.
She was elected Trustee at The Met in 2026 and is a member of the Museum’s Chairman’s Council and Friends of The Costume Institute.
Ms. Rubio was born in the Philippines and lives in New York City with her husband, Stewart Butterfield, and their three children.
About Stewart Butterfield
Stewart Butterfield is a technology entrepreneur best known as the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Slack. He led the company from its founding in 2013 through its public listing in 2019 and subsequent acquisition by Salesforce in 2021. He previously co-founded Flickr and served as its CEO.
Mr. Butterfield’s philanthropic interests include support for scientific research, criminal justice reform, and broad participation in creative expression. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Whitney Museum of American Art and Dia Art Foundation.
Mr. Butterfield was born in British Columbia, Canada. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria and earned a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.
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May 1, 2026
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Announces Transformative Gift from Jennifer Rubio and Stewart Butterfield to Endow Internships for College and University Students
Funding will support paid internships for undergraduate and graduate students in perpetuity, increasing access to and equity in careers in the arts for generations to come
Contact: Stella Kim, Ann Bailis
Communications@metmuseum.org